Top 5 Reasons Why Steel Doors Surpass All Other Doors
If you are an architect or a specifier, you often have to decide which door and frame materials to use for your projects. Between steel, wood, aluminum and fiberglass, the choice is clear; here are the top 5 reasons why steel door surpasses all other door materials.
- Steel Is Famously Strong
Steel’s natural strength outperforms other materials in security, vandal and blast resistance, sanitation, and more. For instance, steel doors offer the highest resistance (PSF) to hurricane and are the only doors that pass FEMA 361 and ICC-500 tornado test, with wind speeds up to 250 mph.
2. Steel Lasts Longer
When properly installed and maintained, steel doors often last 30 years or longer. They do not crack or dent easily. When repairs are necessary, they typically occur in the field at a relatively low cost. A result of the strength and durability of steel is that steel doors have the lowest lifecycle cost of any of the other door materials.
3. Steel Is #1 For Fire-Rating
Steel has a melting point around 2500-2800 °F (1371-1540 °C). This explains why steel doors have the best fire rating capabilities and are the sole door material to deliver a 3-hour fire rating. They are also generally priced lower than other fire-rated doors.
4. Steel Doors Are Quiet
Steel offers the highest STC rating of any door material. Single steel STC doors generally range from STC 32 to STC 55 (and up to 66 with highly specialized doors), with pairs generally rated up to STC 48. On top of that they can also achieve a 3-hour fire rating and offer Vision lights, which is not the case for other materials.
5 Steel Is The Most Recycled Material In North America.
With over 500 million tons of steel being multi-cycled worldwide each year, steel is one of the most sustainable construction materials. It can be recycled, again and again, without ever losing quality, which makes it truly compatible with long-term sustainable development.
Now that you know the top 5 reasons why steel doors surpass any other material, you will be pleased to know that steel doors also offer endless options for attractive appearances, such as modern stainless steel appearance, a vibrant colored finish, or even a faux finish. For more information, please consult our “Performance Study of Steel Doors and Frames”.
Sources:
Why-Steel-Performance-Study-of-Doors-Frames-Compared-to-Other-Materials.pdf (csdma.org)
Why Steel? | Steel Door Institute
Recycled Steel, The Most Recycled In The World | Reclamet Limited